As to the demand that Irish representatives should be retained
for the discussion of Imperial affairs, the Government had already consented to recall them when any question of taxation affecting Ireland was to be discussed ; and they had only failed for want of an intelligible plan, to concede their recall for the discussion of all Imperial affairs. The Government had always favoured this wish, but had hitherto been unable to gratify it for want of any method which would not be incon- sistent with due consideration for Irish and Imperial needs. But, said Mr. Gladstone, "we have now arrived at the conclusion that a plan can be formed" for gratifying that wish in a practicable
and reasonable shape. "If it be the will of the House, we are ready, as in the case of taxation, so here also" [i.e., in the case of " Imperial and reserved matters "] "to undertake the responsi- bility at the proper time of making a proposal upon the subject such as we think will meet all the conditions of the case." This would involve the complete recast of the 24th, 37th, and pro- bably the 39th clauses of the Bill, and this recast the Govern- ment would undertake. If, then, the second reading should be passed, Mr. Gladstone hoped either to adjourn to an autumn Session, or to prorogue early, and convene Parliament in the autumn for a new Session, to discuss the Bill thus recon- structed. In the former case, the Bill would be organically altered in Committee. In the case of prorogation, to which Mr. Gladstone evidently inclined, a perfectly new Bill would be in- troduced, which would, of course, have to go through all its stages afresh. In no case would the Committee stage be taken before the Long Vacation.
